My certificate of recognition

On Monday 1 August, for Education Week, the combined small schools awards for the New England area were held here at Ebor Public School. I was asked to attend as I was to be given an award.

I was surprised and delighted to receive a certificate for "outstanding contribution to Ebor School by a community member" because I have been volunteering to teach the children scrapbooking. They are documenting their school year activities for 2011.

I was so proud and grateful to be recognised but I just love doing what I do. We had a nice afternoon tea and I baked a chocolate jaffa cake which was demolised rather quickly.

One of the highlights of the afternoon was a screening of a short film that the pupils have made with the assistance of a filmmaker from Bellingen. For a small school, the kids get to do some wonderful excursions. They spent 2 days in Coffs Harbour last month and went whale watching and took a helicopter ride. Never had that much fun when I was at school.

I am so glad we moved to Ebor as we have been embraced by the community and have made many new friends.

Cheers

The cedar Elephant's foot

I thought I would post a better photo of this wonderful pot. Given the shape of the log, Matt decided it would make a great elephant's foot so he went about cutting and sanding it to make the finished product.

The grain of the cedar log is brought out to perfection and the toes are made from teak.

He has made another larger one with a brass handle on the lid and the toes of that one are pine. It basically looks the same as this one.

I love it, it is so quirky and cute.

New ideas for woodwork projects

Ok, here is a photo montage created by Matthew of some of his jewellery boxes. Most of them have now been sold except the elephant's foot and the 6 drawer cabinet top left.

His workmanship is superb having worked on the pirate chest jewellery box for almost 3 months to get the details just right. The man who bought it is a carpenter and was amazed at Matt's ability given the fact that he is an amateur and only been woodworking around 12 months.

Matt now has a permanent display of his woodwork at Fusspots Cafe where everyone can see his work. Anything sold whilst I am not actually having my craft stall (every Saturday), we give 10% commission to the owners.

Everyone is happy.

Cheers

more stuff at long last

Wow, 3 months since I updated this. Matt has been busy making things but I have been slack at showing them off. Nevertheless, here are some of his latest creations.

This is a 4 drawer jewellery cabinet made from cedar, teak and red bean woods. All drawers are lined with red felt and it is finished with a gloss lacquer. The handles are made from copper wire.

This is a jewellery box made from some really old wood that Matt has sanded to reveal the lovely grain then lacquered to bring out the character. Also lined with red felt it was bought by Veronica from Fusspots Cafe.

The latest Hobbit Pot & coaster collection

These little pots are made from Australian cedar. Matt has made them from branches and followed their natural shape so that each little pot has its own unique shape. We christened them Hobbit Pots because they look like something you would find in Frodo's or Gandalf's house.

He has turned the knobs on the lids using a drill and his electric sander. One of these days we must get him a proper lathe.

He has also made drink coasters from slices of the cedar branches and has created different holders for each set of six, some of which are pictured below.

I will be having a craft stall this weekend outside the local cafe (Fusspots at Ebor) and am hopeful that these will sell well like the last lot he made.

Matt has made a couple of the coaster sets with pictures of red back spiders on them. The first lot he made like this sold in a flash at the last craft stall.

The main thing is that Matthew loves to work with wood, a new hobby he has found after we moved to Ebor. Previously he really enjoyed lawn bowls but the nearest club with a half way decent green is Armidale, an hour each way by car so he is not all that keen now. And being a retired greenkeeper, he is extremely fussy about the sort of green he plays on.

So woodwork it is and may I say I love his work.

The "Greg" Guitar

This is the "Greg" Guitar that Matt has made. It is the fourth guitar and by far the best sounding one. He has made it for his brother Greg who is a muso. I think he will like it though he doesn't know that he is getting it yet.

Matt will be making another "Greg" for his first commission. No more freebies, he needs to recoup some of the money we have outlayed on wood, glue, strings and other assorted expenses.

Fortunately the hobbit pots are popular and now that Matt has bought some seasoned red cedar logs from Ebay, he will be able to make a whole lot more of them.

Hobbit Jars

See these little jars with lids? I call them Hobbit Jars as they look like something Frodo would have lying around his home.

Matt made them from pieces of an Australian Cedar branch that was sawn into rings. He hollowed out the centres and joined them together then made lids for them. A couple of coats of gloss lacquor and they look pretty good.

They have now been sold along with the coasters in the front of the picture as I had a craft stall last weekend with Loretta outside Fusspots Cafe.

I also sold a few of my "Greetings from Ebor" souvenir cards and a few other scrapbook related products and managed to put $110.00 into the money box. Not a bad effort for a weekend.

I had the Lute/Guitar on display as well and his guitars in the car so when a lady enquired about having Matt make a guitar for her, he accepted his first commission. YAY!!

He has spent the last week in the shed making more coasters and hobbit jars in anticipation of another stall in a few weeks.

I am also selling bookmarks and cards at the post office and at the cafe so I am picking up a little pocket money each week. Nice .....